The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticized the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, asserting that the government is not handling the economy correctly and lacks competent figures to articulate its policies to the public.
Speaking at the 21st Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Lecture organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos on Wednesday, Sanusi noted that the Tinubu administration’s measures, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have exacerbated inflation and worsened economic hardship across the country.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor said he would not offer economic advice to the administration, citing what he described as a lack of friendship from the government. “They are my friends, but if they don’t act like friends, I won’t act like one either,” he remarked.
Sanusi, who chaired the event themed “Bretton Woods and the African Economies: Can Nigerians Survive Another Structural Adjustment Programme?”, attributed the current economic struggles partly to decades of poor governance and policy mismanagement.
“What we’re experiencing today is, at least in part, the result of decades of irresponsible management. People warned about the consequences of our actions, but those in power ignored them,” he said, adding that he might address the economy in detail at a later date.
The Emir also criticized the administration’s communication team, saying, “They don’t even have people with the pedigree to articulate their policies to the public. Let them explain to Nigerians why they are implementing these measures.”
Sanusi’s remarks come amid ongoing criticisms of Tinubu’s economic policies, which have led to mounting inflation and widespread dissatisfaction. Efforts to get a response from the Presidency were unsuccessful, as calls to key presidential spokespeople went unanswered.
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